Coin slide device



Oct. 12, 1937, K, c, BUGG 2,095,431

COIN SLIDE DEVICE Filed Dec. 18, 1936 3 $heets-Sheet l Oct. 12, 1937. K.c. sues com SLIDE DEVICE Filed Dec. 18, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIII ll 1IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Invnior .45 elevationthereof.

Patented Oct. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v 2,095,431 1 coiNsuns nnvIcE Kenly C. Bugg, Farmington, Mo., assignor to The RudolphWurlitzer Company, North Tonawanda, N. Y., a corporation of OhioApplication December 18, 1936, Serial No. 116,628

17 Claims.

This invention relates generally to certain new pensing and sundryapparatus to which such coin devices are applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide a,

- coin slide structure whose parts are so designed 15 as to limit andobstruct the movement of the slide s'erted in the device and permit ofthe proper or acceptable movement of the slide when a proper coin isused, such structure embodying means 20 rendered operative orinoperative, depending on whether a coin or slug is inserted in the coinslide,

to predetermine the proper movement or obstruction of the coin slide andthence the operation or non-operation of the apparatus to which 25 thecoin slide structure is applied.

A further obje'ctis the provision of a coin detector mechanism which issimple, compact and durable inconstruction, which is positive andreliable in operation, which embodies in its concept 30 the structuralmake-up of a minted coin as compared with that of a slug or other coinimitation to render the slide operative or inoperative, and

which reduces to a minimum the use of spurious coins and assures theowner or operator of the 35 apparatus, to which such coin devices areapplied, against the great loss which operators are obliged to acceptwith thecoin devices now on themarket.

Other features of the invention reside in the,

construction and arrangement of parts herein- 40 after described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the coin slide. de-

vice' embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a side Figure 3 is a bottomplan view of the same. Figure 4 is a side elevation viewed from theopposite side of that shown in Figure 2 and with the slide inverted.Figure 5 is a top plan view, similar to Figure 1, but with the cover 50plate of the slide mechanism removed to show the coin-actuated parts inthe first stage of the slide movement. Figure 6 is a longitudinalsectiontaken on line 6--6, Figure '5. Figure '7 is a cross section takenon line 'l'|', Figure 5, showing 5 the position or the parts with aproper coin in place. Figure 8 is a similar view showing the position ofthe parts with a slug or imitation coin in place. Figure 9 is a bottomview taken substantially in the plane of line 9-9, Figure 6, andshowing'the position of the parts with the coin at 5 thesecond stage ofthe slide movement. Figure 10 is an inverted longitudinal section takenon line llll0, Flgure-3. Figure 11 is a cross section taken on line ll-lI, Figure9. Figure 12 is a cross section similar to Figure 11 showingthe 10v position of the parts with 'a slug or imitation coin in place.Figures 13 and 14 are diagrammatic views showing the non-tilting of agenuine coin and the tilting of an imitation coin, respectively,

as performed in accordance with my coin device. 15 member should a slugor coin imitation be in-- Similar characters of referenceindicatecorresponding parts throughout the several views.

In its general organization, my improved coin slide mechanism comprisesa body or guide member in which a coin-receiving slide is mounted forproperly delivering the coin upon pushing the slide to a position whereit will be discharged to a suitable coin magazine and thereupon initiatethe action of the vending machine, phonograph, or like apparatus towhich the coin slide mechanism is connected; means operatively.associated with the coin-receiving slide to normally latchthe slideagainst movements beyond predeterminedpoints or stages in theslide-stroke, such means being disposed for actuation by a proper andgenuine coin to release the slide at the respective stages of itsmovement and permit the full stroke .to be imparted to the slide toenable the coin to be discharged from the slide and render operative theapparatus to which the coin mechanism is applied; and means disposed inthe operating path of the coin slide and designed to effect .1. tiltingor displacement of spurious coins and slugs in such a manner as todisplace them out of the plane of operation of the coin-slide latching40 means with the result that "such means are not actuated to a releasedposition, but remain latched to prevent forward advancement of theslide'as well as to likewise prevent-operation of the apparatus to whichthe coin device is attached. Thus, when a slug or imitation coin isinserted in the coin slide, the latter is advanced a predetermineddistance to the first coin-detecting zone or stage when its furthermovement is arrested by the inability of such slug or imitation coin torelease the latching means from the slide, after which it is necessaryto retract the slide to its initial position, remove the slug orspurious coin, and place a proper minted or acceptablecoin ll theslide'to insure operation of the apparatus i bearing the coin device.The means which cause a tilting displacement of slugs and spurious coinsout of a normal level position in the slide have no effect whatever ongenuine or minted coins, dueto the edge contour or characteristicsthereof as compared with those of spurious coins, so that such genuineor acceptable coins remain in their normal level position and in a planewhere they will engage the latching means and release such means fromthe slide so that the coin will be properly advanced through the slidemechanism.

i Referring now to the drawings, wherein I have shown a preferredembodiment of my invention,

l 5 indicates a channeled body or guide member of 1 the apparatus whichis usually disposed in a substantially horizontal position and has anattaching plate l5 for securing it to the coin-controlled apparatus.Slidably mounted on this guide member is the coin slide I 1 having anaperture I8 for the reception of a proper coin,'the coin being supportedon the floor or bottom of the guide member during the movement of theslide. Forwardly of the attaching plate I6, a guide member is preferablyhorizontally divided to provide a lower section l9 and an upper section20, the sections being joined by screws 2| or the like. As seen in.Figure 5, the coin-receiving aperture i's-open at one side to expose theadjoining portion of the coin to those stages in the movement of thecoin-slide to the means which act to deflect a spurious coin to aposition where it is inoperative to release the latch means of thecoin-slide, and by preference those side edges of the slide adjoiningthe open side of the aperture converge gradually toward the aperture.usual operating handle 22 while its opposite or rear end has a stop lugor abutment 23 arranged to engage the adjoining portion or the guidemember section H to limit the retraction of the coin slide. The lowersection IQ of the guide member I5 is provided in the bottom of its rearend with a discharge opening 24 with which the slide-aperture I8 isadapted to register, when a proper coin has been advanced apredetermined distance, to effect the discharge of the coin by gravitythrough such opening and thence to the coin magazine mechanism of thephonograph or other. coin-controlled apparatus' If desired, a chutemember or deflector 25 may be disposed immediately below the dischargeopening 24 and an ejector in the form of a spring 26 may be provided todirect and insure the proper discharge of a coin from the coin device. I

At 'its rear portion,, and substantially from its rear end to a pointmidway of the length of the coin-slide, the latter is reduced in widthto provide a rearwardly-facing stop shoulder 21 which functions, atpredetermined times, to arrest the forward movement of the slide.Cooperating with this stop shoulder are one or more latch means whichare disposed at diflferent points along the path of travel of the slide1 5 and which are normally urgedin that path intoabutting relation withthat shoulder, so that unless the latch means have been released priorto the slide: shoulder encountering the latch means, the further advanceof the. coins-slide is prohibited and 'it is only possible to properlyadvance the slide to its coin-di charging position in register withthe-opening 24 when such latch means have been released and withdrawnfrom the longitudinalpath of the stop shoulder 21. By way of example, Ihave shown two of such latch means, one

At its forward end the slide has the preferably consisting of ahorizontally-swinging lever 28 pivoted at 29 to the guide member,section i9 and normally urged at its free end into the path of theslide-shoulder 21 by a spring 30. The other latch means consists of asimilar lever 3| pivoted at 32 to the upper section 20 of the guidemember and has a spring 33 normally urging its free end into the path ofthe slide-shoulder. The second-named lever 3| is disposed rearwardly ofthe first l ver 28, the latter acting to arrest the coin-slide at thefirst stage of advancement should other than a genuine coin be insertedin the slide and the lever 3| acting to arrest the slide at the secondstage of advancement should it pass the first stage when other than agenuine coin is inserted in the slide. The latch means consisting of thelevers 28 and 3| are each provided with a tappet portion or pin 34 whichis disposed in the edgewise or marginal path of travel of the coin, andshould a proper or genuine coin be inserted in the coin slide, thenthe'peripheral edge of such coin will act at a predetermined time torock the latch lever, through such pin, in a direction to release itfrom its normally latched position, and thence allow the coin slide tobe advanced properly through the first and second stages heretoforerecited. When other than a genuine coin is so inserted, the latchinglevers will not be released and proper advancement of the coin-slide isprevented.

Means are provided in the operating path of the coin and coin-slide toeffect a tilting or displacement of spurious coins or slugs in such amanner as to displace them, at predetermined timesfout of the plane ofthe lever-pins 34 so that the respective levers 28 and 3| will not bereleased from their latched positions when an attempt is made to passother than genuine coins through the device, thereby preventing theforward advancement of the slide beyond a predetermined point. To thisend, such means are disposed at two points or stages in the movement ofthe coin slide and one of such means,

say at the first stage, acts on the one or top side' of a spurious cointo tilt it clear of the tappet-pin 34 of the first-stage latching lever28, while the other of such means is disposed at the second stage of thecoin-slide movement and acts on the opposite or bottom side of suchspurious coin to tilt it clear of .the tappet-pin 34 of the secondstagelatching lever 3|. Inasmuch as the first and second stage coin-tiltimgmeans are identical in construction, a description of one will sufficefor both, and by preference, each of such mean is constructed asfollows: Mounted on the coin slide body 5 and rearwardly of itsattaching plate l6, and disposed at that side of the coin slide facingthe open side of the coin-aperture l8 for receiving therebetween themarginal or chordal portion of a coin inserted in the coin-slide, areopposinggripping members or jaws 35 and 36 which receive the coin in themanner shown in Figures7, 8, 11 and 12. The jaw 35 is in the form of aflxed'bearpanion jaw members disposed at. the first stage of movement ofthe coin-slide are borne by the lower section IQ of the slide-body,while the jaw members disposed at the second sta e of movement of thecoin slide are borne by the upper section 20 of the slide-body, as shownin Figures, 7, 8 and Figures 11, 12, respectively. A spring 40 coiledabout the attaching bolt 31 of the movable jaw 36 and bearing againstsuch jaw normally urges it toward the companion fixed jaw 35. As shownin Figures '7 and 11, those portions or faces of the guide membersections l9 and 20 immediately surrounding the movable jaw-attachingscrew 31 are slightly inclined out of the horizontal and the bearingface of each companion fixed jaw is inclined in the reverse direction,whereby, in the normal position of the companion jaw, the movable jaw isslightly inclined in a direction opposite to the facial plane of thefixed jaw, as seen by dotted lines in the aforesaid figures.Furthermore, the leading edge of each movable jaw is beveled tofacilitate the entrance of the coin therebetween as the coin-slide'isadvanced, and the trailing edge of the said jaw may be likewise beveledto facilitate the egress of the coin, as indicated at 4| and 42,respectively. By this jaw structure, the opposing faces of the jawmembers 35 and 36bear firmly on the opposing marginal faces of the coinwith the movable or springpressed jaw 36 bearing at an angle to thehorizontal on the opposing edge of the coin in the manner showndiagrammatically in Figure 13, 1

whereby this spring-pressed jaw acts in such a manner as to have atendency to tilt or displace a spurious .coin or sing to such a positionthat it is out of the plane of the actuating tappet 34 of the companionlatch lever 28 or 3 I. When a genuine or minted coin is inserted in thecoin slide and it encounters the jaws 35 and 36, the pressure.

of the movable jaw 36 has no effect thereon to tilt it or displace itout of contact with the latchlever tappet, with the result that the coinacts to release the latch lever so that the coin slide may be properlyadvanced its full stroke to the point of discharge. This fulcrumingaction imparted to spuriouscoins by the jaw structure described is dueto the fact that the structural make-up of such coins presents a curvedor rounded edge of such magnitude as to effect the tilting of thespurious coin in the manner above described when encountering theangular pressure of the movable jaw 36. This inherent structure ofspurious coins is due to the fact that they are usually stamped orpunched was to be made and sold cheaply, while genuine coins are mintedand their edges are comparatively sharpedged and of not such a roundedmagnitude at their edges to have any effect or tendency to tilt whenencountering the jaw structure of this device.

In order to insure the coin being directed into proper engagement withthe companion jaws 35 or 36, I provide a suitable deflector 43 arrangedin the side of the channel of the slide-body I5 to laterally direct thecoin as it approaches the jaws into firm contact therewith. Thisdeflector also functions at a predetermined time to rehave the coin fromfrictional engagement with the coin-slide aperture, so that when aspurious coin is subjected to a tilting displacement it will be free todo so without interference.

In passing from the first stage to the second stage of movement of thecoin slide, I provide a vertically swinging positioning element 44 whichis pivoted at 45 to the bottom of the lower body section l9 and whosefree end projects through 7, an opening 46 in the latter at a pointrearwardly plane of a passing coin and acts normally to force the coinupwardly against the top wall of the guide channel and properly supportit while pass ing through the second stage of presentation to the nextset of jaw members. ing on this positioning element tends normally toswing it upwardly to perform its function and during the first stage ofmovement of the coin slide this positioning element is held downwardlybelow the plane of the coin, as shown in Figure 6, by aninclinedshoulder or projection 41 which projects upwardly through an opening inthe body section l9 and normally abuts against the underside of the coinslide, that is, in the retracted position of the latter shown' in Figure1 and in the first stage advancement of the coin slide A spring 44actdiately upon passing such second stage the lever 44 is deflecteddownwardly by the bottom of the coin slide so as not to interfere withthe final advancing stroke of the coin slide to its position fordischarging the coin. The free end of the positioning element or lever44 is provided with "an upwardly-facing. shoulder 49 so that should a.

washer-type slug be attempted to be passed through this device, the saidelement will, at a predetermined time, swing upwardly into the openingof that type slug and thereby lock the slide against movement, making itnecessary to then retract the slide and informing the user that such aslug will not be accepted by this device.

It will be understood from the foregoing, that when a spurious coin isattempted to be passed through the coin slide, it will be impossible toadvance the coin slide its full operating stroke, and that if thespurious coin is not tilted at the first stage of movement of the slide,but will for some reason engage the tappet pin 34 of the first lever all28 and release it to enable the slide to be moved 7 to its second stage,it will subsequently encounter the next or second stage tilting meansand be accordingly displaced where-it will have no efiect to release thesecond stage lever 3|. When the coin slide is so, arrested, it isnecessary to then withdraw the coin slide to its initial position andshould the user want service rendered at the apparatus to which the coinslide is attached, he will understand that hemust use a proper andgenuine coin. v

In the drawings, a genuine coin has been indicated by the numeral 50 anda spurious coin .by the numeral 5|.

I claim as my invention:

1. A coin device of the character described, comprising a slide forreceiving a genuine or spurious coin, a guide member for said slide,latch means for prohibiting a full operative stroke of the coin slideexcept when a genuine coin of pre-' determined edge characteristics iscontained in the slide, such coin constituting an actuating element forreleasing the latch means from the slide them to a position where theyare inoperative to release the latch member.

2'. A coin device of the character described, comprising a slidecontaining an aperture for receiving a genuineor spurious coin, a guidemember for said slide, latch means for prohibiting a full operativestroke of the coin slide except when an acceptable coinof given edgecharacteristics is contained in the slide, said latch means having apart extending into the path of travel of such acceptable coin forengagement therewith to release the latch means from the slide at apredetermined time in its travel, and coinengaging means including aspring-pressed fulcruming member disposed angularly to and in the pathof the coin slide and operative at a predetermined time on coins havingedge characteristics diflering from those of an acceptable coin todeflect them out of the plane of said latch means part and therebyprevent the release of the latch means from the slide and preclude itsfull operative stroke.

3. A coin device of the character described, comprising a slidecontaining an aperture for receiving a genuine or spurious coin, a guidemember for said slide, latch means for prohibiting a full operativestroke of the coin slide except when a genuine coin of conventional edgecharacteristics is contained in the slide, such coin being disposed forengagement with the latch means at a predetermined time in theslide-stroke to release said latch means from said slide, and jawlikemeans disposed in the path of the coin slide and operable edgewise on aspurious coin, difier edge contour is contained therein, said latchmeans having a part normally disposed in the coin-path adjacent one sidethereof for engagement by the peripheral edge of an acceptable coin at apredetermined time to move the latch means to a released position, andspring-edged leverage means disposed at the opposite side of thecoin-path and efl'ective on a coin having an edge contour diiierent froman acceptable coin to tilt and deflect the same out of engagement withsaid latch means part and prevent the release of the latch means fromthe coin slide.

5. A coin device of the character described, comprising a slidecontaining an aperture for receiving a genuine or spurious coin, a guidemember for said slide, latch means normally engaging said slide toprohibit a full operative stroke of the slide, said latch means having apart disposed pivotally in the coin-path, and spring-pressed tiltingmeans disposed along the path of movement of the coin-slide forcornerwise bearing engagement with the edge of a coin and effective oncoins having edge characteristics different from a genuine coin todisplace them out of the plane of the latch means part and ineifectiveon genuine coins to so displace them, whereby said latch means is onlyreleased to effect an operative stroke of the coin-slide when a genuinecoin is contained therein.

6. A coin device of the character described. comprising a slidecontaining an aperture for receiving a genuine or spurious coin, a guidemember for said slide, latch means normally engaging said slide toprohibit a full operative stroke of the slide, said latch means having apart disposed adjacent one side of the coin-path, and jaw-like meansdisposed adjacent the opposite side of the coin-path and immediately inadvance of the latch means part for engaging the marginal edge of thecoin, said last-named means being arranged to provide an inwardlydiverging throat for receiving a coin and effective on a coin havingedge characteristics diii'erent from a conventional genuine coin todisplace it angularly out of the plane of said latch means part andineffective on genuine coins to so displace them, whereby said latchmeans is only released to effect an operative stroke of the coin-slidewhen a genuine coin is contained therein.

7. A coin device of the character described, comprising a slidecontaining an aperture for re ceiving a genuine or spurious coin, aguide member for said slide, latch means normally engaging said slide toprohibita full operative stroke of the slide, said latch means beingdisposed for release from the coin-slide whenever an acceptable coin ofpredetermined edge contour is advanced through the device, and means forprohibiting the release of said latch means whenever a coin of adifferent edge contour is attempted to be passed through the device,said meansincluding opposing fixed and movable jaws for receiving themarginal edge of the coin between them.

8. A coin device of the character described, comprising a slidecontaining an aperture for receiving a genuine or spurious coin, a guidemember for said slide, latch means normally engaging said slide toprohibit a full operative stroke of the slide, said latch means beingdisposed for release by an acceptable coin of predetermined edge contourat a predetermined time in the advancement of the coin-slide, and meansfor prohibiting the release of said latch means whenever a coin otherthan an acceptable one, is attempted to be passed through the device,said prohibiting means including a yieldable pressure member engageablewith the marginal edge of a coin to eflect a tilting displacement of acoin, having an edge contour different from that of an acceptable coin,to a position where it is ineffective torelease the latch means.

9. A coin device of the character described, comprising a slidecontaining an aperture for receiving a coin, a guide member for saidslide, latch means normally engaging said slide to prohibit a fulloperative stroke of the slide, said latch 'means having a part disposedin the advancing path of an acceptable coin for engagement thereby torelease the latch means from the coin-slide,

and coin-displacing means disposed in the path of one side of anadvancing coin and including a member adapted to exert a pressure at acorner of the peripheral edge of other than an acceptable coin to tiltit to a position where it is displaced from engagement with said latchmeans part.

10. A coin device of the character described, comprising a coin slide, aguide member therefor, a latch normally engaging said slide to prohibitits full operative stroke except when an acceptable coin is containedtherein, said latch having a part for engagement by such coin at apredetermined time in the advancing movement of the slide to release thelatch from said slide, and non-magnetic, pressure means in the path ofand at a favorable angle to the plane of an advancing coin forfulcrumingother than an acceptable coin about its peripheral edge to displace itfrom said latch part so as to preclude the unlatching of the coin-slide.

lL-A coin device of the character described,

comprising a coin slide, a guide member there- "for,'a latch normallyengaging said slide to prohibit its full operative stroke except when acoin of predetermined edge contour is contained therein, said latchhaving a part for engagement byv such coin at a predetermined time inthe advancing movement of the slide to release thelatch from said slide,and means in the path of the opposing marginal faces of an advancingcoin for fulcruming other than a coin of predetermined edge contourabout its peripheral edge to displace it from said latch part so as topreclude the unlatching of the coin-slide, said coinfulcruming meansincluding opposing jaws for receiving a peripheral portion of the cointherebetween, one of said jaws consisting of a fixed bearing member andthe other consisting of a yieldable pressure member displaced at such anangle to the coin as to. exert a tilting action thereon.

12. A coin device of the character described, comprising a coin slide, aguide member therefor, a latch normally engaging said slide to prohibitits full operative stroke except when a coin of predetermined edgecontour is contained therein, said latch having a part for engagement bysuch coin at a predetermined time in the advancing movement of the slideto release .the latch from said slide, means in the path being arrangedfor proper advancement whenever a coin of a predetermined edge contouris inserted therein; and means for preventing the proper advancement ofthe slide whenever a coin of a different edge contour is insertedtherein, said fiieans including opposing members providing a'y-shapedthroat to receive, the

mangcinal edge of a coin and one of said members onstituting a,fu'lcruming pressure clement operative totilt coins of such diflerentedge contour to positions prohibiting proper slide movement.

14, A coin device or the character described,

comprising a slide containing an, aperture for:

receiving acceptable and; other coins, a guide member for said slide andhaving a floor .for supporting the coin while'adva'nc'ed by the slide,the latter having latching shoulders thereon, a plurality -01 latchmeans mounted on said guide member at ditferent points along the courseof movement 'of the coin slide for releasable en-j gagement with itsshoulders, each 'of said latch means consisting of a pivoted levernormally urged in a 'direction for engagement with the. companionslide-latching shoulder. and having a part thereon extending into thepath oftravel or the coin and adapted to be engaged by an acceptablecoin only to release the companion latch means from the slide at apredetermined time in its travel, and a plurality of jaw means mountedon said guide member alongside the path of travel of the coin slide andpositioned immediately in advance of the coin-engaging parts of thecompanion latch means for operative engagement, respectively, with theopposite edge portions of a coin to tilt other than an acceptable coinat an inclination where it is clear of operative engagement with theactuating parts of said latch means, each of said jaw means consistingof a fixed bearing plate and an overhanging yieldable pressure jaw, thelatter acting on the edge portion or otherthan an acceptable coin totilt it with the fixed plate jaw constituting a iulcrum bearing for theopposite edge of such coin. I

'15. A coin device of the character described,

'comprising'a slide "for. receiving a coin, latch means disposedlaterally. of and normally engageable with the slide for prohibiting itsfull operative stroke except when'an acceptable coin of predeterminedcharacteristics is contained therein, said latch means having a partnormally disposed in the path of the slide and engageable by theperipheral edge of such acceptable coin to release the latch means at apredetermined time in the slide travel, and edge-gripping meansindependent of said latch means disposed along the path of thecoin-slide and including an element for exerting an annular pressure onthe marginal edge of a coin to tilt other than an acceptable coin out ofits normal plane of travel and ineffective to tilt a coin of differentcharacteristics out of its normal plane of travel, whereby the coins ofacceptable characteristics only are presented in a plane to engage thelatch means part to release said latch means from the coin slide.

-16. A coin device of the character described, comprising meansconstituting a defined path of travel for a coin and including adischarge opening for an acceptable c'oin of predetermined edge contour,and means disposed in advance of said discharge opening for receivingthe marginal edge of a coin and including a fulcruming, an-

gularly-disposed yieldable pressure member engageable with the corner ofthe peripheral edge of a coin and efiective on a coin'oi a character.-istic edge contour to displace it out of the defined path of traveldetermined by said firstnamed means and ineffective on a coin of adifierent characteristic edge contour to so displace it, whereby onlythe coins of acceptable edge contour are presented to the dischargeopening.

17. A coin device of the character described, comprising [a slide forreceiving a coin, latch -means for prohibiting a full operative strokeof the coin slidencxcept when a coin of a predetermined edge contour iscontainedtherein, such coin constituting an actuating element forreleasing the latch means 'from the slide at a predetermined time in.its travel and" tilting means disposed in the path of and engageablewith the peripheral edges or opposing faces at one side of the coin,said means being unre ponsive to deflect coins having'a predeterr'nineedge contour and being responsive on coins having an edge contourdifferent from the aforesaidcoins to deflect them out of the path ofthe. latch means whereby said latch-means is unaffected and theoperative slide movement prohibited.

KEN'LY BUGG.

